Join the Preserve Our Planet (POP) Corn Cooperative, the City of Mt Rainier and the Save Our Sky Home-Heating Cooperative to officially open the Mt Rainier Urban Grain Bin. The 20-foot tall, 9-foot wide structure holds about 20 tons of dry, shelled feed corn which will be used as heating fuel in pellets stoves to save money, reduce carbon emissions and support local farmers. Members of the coop get convenient access to an environmentally-friendly alternative to natural gas, oil or electric heating. Anyone can join!

DATE: Saturday, Oct 10, 2009

PROGRAM: Open House 9am - 12pm
Speakers and Grand Opening at 10am
Potluck Brunch to follow... (bring something if you can)

LOCATION: 3601 Bunkerhill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD
(Just off Rt 1/Rhode Island Ave at the rear of the county fire station, and directly behind the Mt Rainier Bike Coop/Tool Shed) http://tinyurl.com/PopcornCoop


PROGRAM DETAILS:
At the Open House, learn about corn stoves and the corn cooperatives, opportunity to become a member, and see tables from local eco-vendors and organizations (including Green Home (www.greenhomellc.biz), Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Urban Solar Solutions, Mt Rainier Bike Coop, Mt Rainier Tool Shed, etc). Speakers will include representatives from local government and environmental advocacy organizations. Also, Francisca (whose restaurant is at 34th and Bunker Hill Road) will be on hand selling corn pupusas and corn tamales!


After everything's over, head down to the Green Festival at the convention center (Saturday and Sunday), see: www.GreenFestivals.org 

Wanna see some stoves in action? Save the Date for the Mt Rainier Corn Stove Tour - Coming Nov 21 - Details to be announced.


MORE ABOUT THE CORN COOP:
We currently have about 70 members of the Takoma Park coop, from Gaithersburg and Pooleville to DC and Hyattsville. We expect/hope for 10, 20, 30 new members of the Mt Rainier coop this year. Members who get their primary heating from corn spend between $500-1000 per season, usually saving several hundred dollars and paying for their stoves in about 5 years.

This year we are attempting a bulk purchase of corn/pellet stoves. If you're interested in joining the purchase(s) and saving an additional $200-1000, plus getting a 30% up to $1,500 federal tax credit, please visit the website and contact us.


BIG THANK YOUS TO:
County Council member Will Campos, Brad Frome, Neighborhood Design Center, City of Mt Rainier, Green Home, LLC, People's Supply, Helicon Works, Prince Georges Fire and Rescue, Gateway Community Development Corporation, Save Our Sky Home-Heating Cooperative all past and present Mt. Rainier Council Members and everyone else who helped us reach our goal after three years!